Fastrack - January 26, 2011

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USGBC Welcomes New Directors

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced the newly elected members of its Board of Directors. During elections that closed in December, the USGBC’s membership chose the following individuals to serve as directors: [MORE]

Great Energy Efficiency Day to Highlight Legislation Opportunities

The Alliance to Save Energy will host the 2011 Great Energy Efficiency Day Feb. 16 in Washington, D.C. Featuring keynote addresses from congressional members, as well as panel sessions with members of the energy-efficiency community, this year’s event will cover why energy efficiency is the most viable way for the 112th Congress to embrace a clean-energy economy. Four panels will focus on energy-efficiency legislation opportunities for job creation and workforce training, building codes and retrofits, industrial incentives and technologies, and standards and labeling. [MORE]

ASHRAE Winter Conference Features Online Scheduler

The 2011 ASHRAE Winter Conference, to be held Jan. 29 to Feb. 2 in Las Vegas, features a new interactive scheduler that allows users to customize personal conference schedules. The scheduler can integrate technical-program sessions; technical-, standing-, or standard-project-committee meetings; ASHRAE Learning Institute courses; and other appointments. The scheduler can search the conference’s technical program by day, track, and presenter. [MORE]

AHR Expo Product Preview

Replacement motors

The JuggerNaut line of inverter-duty condenser-fan replacement motors for the commercial air-conditioning and refrigeration markets includes Class F insulation for 158˚F maximum ambient conditions, a quick-connect voltage-change module, and a removable rigid base that provides for rigid-base or belly-band mounting. The replacement motors are available in five ratings: 1, 1½, and 2 hp at 1,140 rpm, as well as 1 and 1½ hp at 850 rpm. [MORE]—A.O. Smith Electrical Products Co.

Independent valves

Designed to perform control and energy strategies for building-automation systems, ePIV pressure-independent control valves maintain flow regardless of pressure fluctuation. The valves directly measure flow by combining a magnetic flow meter with two-way control to offer regulation, balance, and shutoff. Flow readings are reported back to the controller. [MORE]—Belimo

Screw compressors

Optimized for low-condensing-temperature applications, CSW Series screw compressors are suited for water-cooled chillers, process cooling, and systems with air-cooled condensers operating under moderate climate conditions. The screw compressors provide energy efficiency, particularly under part-load conditions; they are 30 percent more efficient at part load than standard models. [MORE]—Bitzer US Inc.

Condensing boilers

Three models have been added to the Triple-Flex line of high-efficiency condensing flexible-watertube boilers. The TF 150, TF 200, and TF 250 offer inputs from 1,500 to 2,500 mbh, with sub-30-ppm nitrogen oxide, utilizing a hybrid metal-fiber burner. The boilers have a minimum thermal efficiency of 90 percent in worst-case operating conditions, such as 160˚F return water and 180˚F supply water at 100-percent firing load. Efficiencies of up to 99 percent are achievable with lower return-water temperatures, such as those found in new buildings. [MORE]—Bryan Steam LLC

Heat-pump systems

Tranquility TRW vertical-stack hybrid heat-pump systems can heat or cool, with loop temperatures from 85˚F to 125˚F. A compressor-based cooling cycle uses EarthPure HFC-410A refrigerant. The hydronic heating cycle uses loop water for quiet, dependable heat. When units in the building are cooling and heating, the heat rejected in the loop by units in cooling mode becomes “free” heat for units in heating mode. Unit- or remote-mounted controls are available. [MORE]—ClimateMaster

Impellers

Suitable for most air-conditioning, ventilation, and critical applications, RadiCal impellers feature an aerodynamically optimized hybrid construction that provides a continuous flow of air, increasing the aerodynamic efficiency of a fan. Compared with conventional alternating-current fans, the impellers consume 50-percent less energy and ensure 50-percent noise reduction. Compact, the impellers can be integrated into tight spaces. [MORE]—ebm-papst

CoreSense compressor electronics enhance compressor and system performance by sensing and interpreting electrical and mechanical information within a compressor to provide advanced capabilities, such as system diagnostics, protection, and communication. The electronics can help improve system performance and reliability and reduce costly callbacks. [MORE]—Emerson Climate Technologies Inc.

HVACR-equipment coating

An environmentally friendly coating for HVACR equipment, EGuard DCC Green is a polyurethane aluminum-impregnated coating developed for all types of heat exchangers. The corrosion of heat-exchange coils caused by pollution and other environmental conditions raises electrical costs and shortens the life of HVACR equipment. Dry to the touch in 15 min, the coating can be spray-applied to new and existing in-service coils to reverse current and prevent corrosion, saving money by extending equipment service life and improving energy efficiency. [MORE]—EnergyGuard USA

Economizer systems

An economizer system for commercial boiler and water-heater systems, the IPVB-ECO consists of an inline power venter and an integrated economizer unit with stainless-steel tubes in a compact design. The system can operate in condensing or non-condensing mode. Able to be installed vertically or horizontally, seven standard sizes can achieve energy savings of up to 5 percent. [MORE]—Enervex (formerly Exhausto)

Flue-draft and CO safety monitor

EBC 35 draft controls with carbon-monoxide (CO) monitors help safeguard boiler facilities. An integrated proven draft-switch function ensures the control will lock out boilers within an adjustable time period if sufficient draft cannot be maintained. The CO transmitter’s liquid-crystal display monitors CO levels on location. The units’ sensors have a minimum two-year life span. [MORE]—Enervex (formerly Exhausto)

Designed for numerous HVACR applications, such as leak detection and corrosion and deposit-buildup inspection, the SEEKER 100 (DCS100) wireless USB video inspection system includes the RCV100 USB video receiver. The receiver and its included software wirelessly connect the video inspection system to a Windows computer, enabling video to be viewed on the computer or streamed live over the Internet via Skype. [MORE]—General Tools & Instruments

Six new replacement furnace boards and ignition controls—ICM284, ICM287, ICM289, ICM291, ICM292, and ICM2801—operate with microprocessor-based precision and are designed for safety, including 100-percent lockout. Three fan-coil thermostats—SC700V, SC710V, and SC900V—are designed for high-voltage fan-coil and baseboard applications. The thermostats support 24- to 277-v three-speed fan applications and offer precise comfort control accurate to ±1˚F. [MORE]—ICM Controls

High-pressure condensate return

Engineered to reduce energy use by collecting high-temperature condensate and safely pumping it back to a steam boiler without flash loss, high-pressure condensate returns increase the efficiency of production equipment by ensuring condensate is properly drained out of processes and returned to boilers. [MORE]—Industrial Steam

Refrigerant analyzer

A portable analyzer that quickly and accurately identifies refrigerant type and protects against refrigerant contamination, Ultima ID Pro enables pre-screening, which can help avoid costly refrigerant mixing during consolidation and reclamation. The analyzer delivers results in less than 3 min with an accuracy of ±2 percent or better. [MORE]—Neutronics Refrigerant Analysis

Boiler control

For new and replacement installations, as well as additions and retrofits, the TempTracker Mod+Hybrid control is capable of integrating all Raypak and most other major boiler platforms. With an optional BACnet building-management-system link, stage-fire, modulation, condensing, and non-condensing boilers can be mixed. The hybrid-control concept helps users stay within budget guidelines while maintaining the benefits of condensing designs. [MORE]—Raypak

Tube heaters

Space-Ray’s product line includes PTS/PTU Series tube heaters in more than 100 configurations, with capacities of 40,000 to 200,000 Btuh and minimum mounting heights of 10 to 18 ft; LTU Series tube heaters in more than 100 configurations, with capacities of 40,000 to 250,000 Btuh; LTS infrared straight tube heaters in more than 100 configurations, with capacities of 40,000 to 250,000 Btuh; ETS/ETU Series low-intensity infrared tube heaters in 80 configurations, with capacities of 40,000 to 250,000 Btuh; high-intensity ceramic heaters with capacities of 26,000 to 160,000 Btuh; and four Cold Blocker infrared gas tube heaters for light-commercial and small unheated spaces with capacities of 20,000 to 50,000 Btuh. [MORE]—Space-Ray Infrared Heaters

Radiant-heating systems

Old heating systems can be upgraded with Premier VS-VH high-efficiency radiant-heating systems. Thermal efficiencies of up to 94 percent, depending on configuration, are combined with the benefits of radiant heat to maximize fuel savings. Custom designs can include long or short condensing or non-condensing system options. The optional SRP Accu-Rate modulating control enables communication with energy-management systems and independent-zone or system modulation between 60 and 100 percent. [MORE]—Superior Radiant Products Ltd.

Pump Revit files

Taco has produced individual Revit files for more than 860 product models within 24 separate product groups. These include pumps, circulators, heat exchangers, buffer and expansion tanks, air dirt separators, and valves. Another three product groups, involving more than 50 products, remain to be completed and should be available within the first quarter of 2011. Taco was the first HVAC pump manufacturer to release Revit files. [MORE]—Taco

Buildings and their power and cooling systems are built to last for decades. However, they must respond to market conditions on an hourly basis to operate efficiently. This requires not only selecting the right equipment, but designing a strategy for it to operate at the lowest possible cost. Fuel prices can double in a month. Electricity prices can have even wider swings in a single day, and prices are highest just when air conditioning is most in demand. Further complicating the issue: A building owner can earn money by agreeing to participate in a utility's demand-response (DR) program, in which he or she agrees to curtail electricity use on the demand of the utility or wholesaler. [MORE]

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The magazine for the mechanical-systems-engineering community, HPAC Engineering is a forum for peer-to-peer communication among engineering professionals and facility owners/operators in the non-residential-building marketplace, including the critical manufacturing-, government-, education-, health-care-, and office-building sectors.